High school students learn tough issues facing today’s business world
Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School student Seth Nuddle is getting down to business this summer at an economic education program at Lycoming College.
Nuddle’s session at the weeklong business market crash course, titled “Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week,” took place at the college during the first week in August.
The program’s four weeklong sessions were held throughout the summer for high school students across the state at both Lycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology, apart of the Pennsylvania State University. Both locations are in Williamsport.
Seth attended the fourth and final session.
Seth, 16, of Plymouth Meeting, will be a junior in the fall at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and hopes to go into a career in business after attending college.
In addition to Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, he also went to a three-week Penn State summer study program at main campus in July, where he attended seminars in business and marketing.
Seth, who is involved in a business club at his high school, decided to attend the free enterprise week as an educational and social opportunity.
“I like meeting new people, and I thought it would be a good idea to get back into the swing of things for school. Because I enjoy business, I feel like I should start doing things now to help me in the future. It is better to advance my skills now so that my classes may be easier,” he said.
At school, Seth is involved in student council and environmental club, is the coordinator of the school’s steering committee, and plays baseball and guitar.
John J. Trombetta, who heads the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education that puts on the program, said the foundation has helped launch programs in 24 states and in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
The Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program is in its 31st year and claims to be the largest program of its kind in the world, according to Trombetta.
“The whole focus of the program is to teach students about the issues that face American businesses today, such as the pressures of surviving in a recession, government regulations and marketability,” he said.
While at the camp, students play the role of real life senior managers at mock medium-size manufacturing corporations and run the fictional companies while facing business decisions and challenges. Trombetta calls the program a college- and masters-degree-level model.
In addition to the business simulation, students listened to six speakers each day from the business world, such as a former chairman of Merck pharmaceuticals, a Waste Management executive and the president of a steel company.
When not in business, students participate in social activities, such as a pool party and a dance.
This summer, about 1,400 students attended the four sessions. Each session holds around 350 to 375 students.
Trombetta said attendance was down this summer because of a dip in sponsorship caused by the recession. Typically, about 1,800 students attend each summer.
Students attend on scholarships provided by companies, nonprofit organizations, business associations and chambers of commerce throughout the state, but it is up to the student to produce the $135 registration fee.
“The work we are doing is so critical. Such a large percentage of the American population does not know what it takes to create and keep a profitable and solvent business going. The pressures that face businesses are enormous, and students learn firsthand about how a company stays competitive,” Trombetta said.
To apply for free enterprise week, students write essays as to why they want to attend and why they are deserving of a scholarship.
Materials to apply are available to students through their school districts beginning in October, and students are notified in the spring that they have been accepted to the program.
Trombetta said students walk away from the experience with leadership and teamwork skills and gain knowledge of the business world and career opportunities.
“It’s all about their futures and potential, and I think that’s why they love being here. It’s an opportunity that every young person, if they have the time, would really never regret taking advantage of,” Trombetta said.
For more information, visit www.pfew.org.
Nuddle’s session at the weeklong business market crash course, titled “Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week,” took place at the college during the first week in August.
The program’s four weeklong sessions were held throughout the summer for high school students across the state at both Lycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology, apart of the Pennsylvania State University. Both locations are in Williamsport.
Seth attended the fourth and final session.
Seth, 16, of Plymouth Meeting, will be a junior in the fall at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and hopes to go into a career in business after attending college.
In addition to Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, he also went to a three-week Penn State summer study program at main campus in July, where he attended seminars in business and marketing.
Seth, who is involved in a business club at his high school, decided to attend the free enterprise week as an educational and social opportunity.
“I like meeting new people, and I thought it would be a good idea to get back into the swing of things for school. Because I enjoy business, I feel like I should start doing things now to help me in the future. It is better to advance my skills now so that my classes may be easier,” he said.
At school, Seth is involved in student council and environmental club, is the coordinator of the school’s steering committee, and plays baseball and guitar.
John J. Trombetta, who heads the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education that puts on the program, said the foundation has helped launch programs in 24 states and in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
The Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program is in its 31st year and claims to be the largest program of its kind in the world, according to Trombetta.
“The whole focus of the program is to teach students about the issues that face American businesses today, such as the pressures of surviving in a recession, government regulations and marketability,” he said.
While at the camp, students play the role of real life senior managers at mock medium-size manufacturing corporations and run the fictional companies while facing business decisions and challenges. Trombetta calls the program a college- and masters-degree-level model.
In addition to the business simulation, students listened to six speakers each day from the business world, such as a former chairman of Merck pharmaceuticals, a Waste Management executive and the president of a steel company.
When not in business, students participate in social activities, such as a pool party and a dance.
This summer, about 1,400 students attended the four sessions. Each session holds around 350 to 375 students.
Trombetta said attendance was down this summer because of a dip in sponsorship caused by the recession. Typically, about 1,800 students attend each summer.
Students attend on scholarships provided by companies, nonprofit organizations, business associations and chambers of commerce throughout the state, but it is up to the student to produce the $135 registration fee.
“The work we are doing is so critical. Such a large percentage of the American population does not know what it takes to create and keep a profitable and solvent business going. The pressures that face businesses are enormous, and students learn firsthand about how a company stays competitive,” Trombetta said.
To apply for free enterprise week, students write essays as to why they want to attend and why they are deserving of a scholarship.
Materials to apply are available to students through their school districts beginning in October, and students are notified in the spring that they have been accepted to the program.
Trombetta said students walk away from the experience with leadership and teamwork skills and gain knowledge of the business world and career opportunities.
“It’s all about their futures and potential, and I think that’s why they love being here. It’s an opportunity that every young person, if they have the time, would really never regret taking advantage of,” Trombetta said.
For more information, visit www.pfew.org.
